Listening for Leviathans
Wed, 04 Aug 2010 1:38 pm – Posted by Mandy | 3 Comments
Blogger: Forest & Bird’s Marine Advocate, Karen Baird
I’m part of a group of five scientists and conservationists departing Whangarei on ‘SV FalconGT’ this Sunday to listen out for whale chatter near the Kermadec trench – a deep trench to the far, far north-east of New Zealand.
Physically, the Kermadec trench is defined by an extensive, volcanic and highly active submarine arc extending from White Island to Tonga.
In the 1800s American whalers killed hauled in great numbers of sperm and right whales around this deep-sea trench and it is well-known migratory route for humpback whales, so it hoped the ocean will be alive with whale-conversation!
One species we’re especially interested in is a group of more enigmatic cetaceans – beaked whales.